Airsure Delivery Times

[JamieM]

Hi,

Does anyone use Royal Mail Airsure for shipping overseas? Have you monitored the actual shipping times?

We usually use standard Airmail or International Signed For but I'd be interested to know if Airsure is any quicker? Particularly for US but interested to hear about other countries too.

Thanks.

 

[thecyclingartist]

For the US keep in mind that they still have increased security measures in place that affect any items arriving from abroad. So it might get to the US quicker, but will not speed up that clearance process. I tend to use it only for the insurance, not for any guarantee of speed.

Tina.

 

[privateer]

In my experience, AirSure is no quicker than ordinary AirMail.

And as the other poster says, AirMail to the USA can be VERY slow right now (6 weeks for the last package), although it does vary a lot.

 

[ian-d]

Both Airsure and International Signed For are a waste of money once the item leaves the UK, as other countries are under no obligation to obtain signatures etc. If you only need the basic level of cover (think around £42 at the moment - always 100x the face value of a first class stamp) stick to standard airmail; at least then if you have a dishonest customer who says they haven't received it, you can claim and Royal Mail will have no means of proving it arrived.

 

[thecyclingartist]

Ah, very true about signatures. Every Airsure packet I've sent to the US has been left on a doorstep. (sometimes in the rain)

 

[kulture]

Airsure is not a signed for service. It is a tracked service. All my airsure parcels get to the USA in just over a week. Consistently faster than ordinary airmail.

 

[thecyclingartist]

Ok, then I meant Int'l Signed For. They never get a signature.

 

[JamieM]

Airsure is not a signed for service. It is a tracked service. All my airsure parcels get to the USA in just over a week. Consistently faster than ordinary airmail.

Thanks, that's not bad. I think I will test it as even ISF has been taking quite a while at the moment.

Both Airsure and International Signed For are a waste of money once the item leaves the UK, as other countries are under no obligation to obtain signatures etc. If you only need the basic level of cover (think around £42 at the moment - always 100x the face value of a first class stamp) stick to standard airmail; at least then if you have a dishonest customer who says they haven't received it, you can claim and Royal Mail will have no means of proving it arrived.

I'm not really fussed about signatures, it's speed and tracking I'm looking for. We use Airmail for most orders but it's good to have a tracked option available as some customers insist on it.

 

[ian-d]

I'm not really fussed about signatures, it's speed and tracking I'm looking for. We use Airmail for most orders but it's good to have a tracked option available as some customers insist on it.

The tracking service on Airsure is limited though, and typically only reliable within the UK, then at final delivery (without signature). Royal Mail themselves only state it can be "up to 1 day faster" which isn't a great deal considering the price difference.

 

[JamieM]

The tracking service on Airsure is limited though, and typically only reliable within the UK, then at final delivery (without signature). Royal Mail themselves only state it can be "up to 1 day faster" which isn't a great deal considering the price difference.

Yeah they do say up to 1 day faster but that is questionable which is why I am asking for actual experiences.

I know the tracking is limited but it's still a tracking service and as I said some customers want it.

 

[strikingedge]

Airsure to USA is currently taking around 1 week for us - compared to 3-6 weeks for standard airmail.

Airmail to France is currently taking around 1 week, compared to 3-4 weeks for standard airmail.

For other countries, Airsure is marginally quicker by about a day - but often no quicker than standard Airmail.

In our experience, where there are problems with delivery, Airsure does get it there quicker. We saw little or no improvement on delivery times with International Signed For.

These are for packet post - we don't send letters. Since Airsure is around £10-12 for packets, we switch to FedEx or UPS where we can, as the cost is only marginally higher, and delivery much more assured.

 

[JamieM]

Airsure to USA is currently taking around 1 week for us - compared to 3-6 weeks for standard airmail.

Airmail to France is currently taking around 1 week, compared to 3-4 weeks for standard airmail.

For other countries, Airsure is marginally quicker by about a day - but often no quicker than standard Airmail.

In our experience, where there are problems with delivery, Airsure does get it there quicker. We saw little or no improvement on delivery times with International Signed For.

These are for packet post - we don't send letters. Since Airsure is around £10-12 for packets, we switch to FedEx or UPS where we can, as the cost is only marginally higher, and delivery much more assured.

That's great. Thanks a lot!